Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning provides a continuing opportunity for our employees to reach their full potential. We are committed to extending the opportunities for our employees in this area and continue to develop partnerships and open centres to achieve this.
Lifelong learning networks provide shift-friendly and, in many cases, free courses to rail employees and their families. Courses range from basic skills such as numeracy and literacy to foreign languages, digital photography and first aid.
First ScotRail continues to collaborate with the Rail Union Learning Fund to help fund the Rail Learning Centre at Stow College. Since April 2007, more than 130 First ScotRail learners have studied there. As part of a commitment to extend these opportunities to staff outside Glasgow, learning hubs have been created at Motherwell, Dundee, Ayr, Perth, Shields, Inverness, Yoker, Stirling and Dumfries. We offer a range of subjects including Spanish, digital photography and cookery. In addition, our popular Earn as you Learn scheme offers a 20 hour programme of basic numeracy and literacy skills: staff who attend are paid 20 hours salary.
First Great Western’s main learning centre is in Reading, with eight learning and development academies located across the network. These offer Skills for Life and lifelong learning as well as job-specific and management training. The company now plans to appoint union learning representatives (ULRs) across the business who will work with local colleges to offer lifelong learning and skills enhancement opportunities for employees. The ULRs provide support and encouragement to employees who want to review and broaden their current range of skills and raise the profile of workplace training and development.
First TransPennine Express has established a learning agreement with the unions. During the last year the company has appointed a number of ULRs across the business to promote workplace learning. A lifelong learning centre has now opened in Hull and progress is being made to open a centre in Sheffield.